LEBANESE FOR PEACE

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

PEACEFEST 2006

Lebanese for Peace participated in PeaceFest 2006 that took place on September 23th in College Green Park, in Iowa City, IA.

PeaceFest was a day of community action to help promote global justice and human rights. More than 20 student and local organizations attended the event. Our community members worked at raising awareness about the situation in the Middle East and offered ways to help the people of Lebanon.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

OPERATION "MEDICAL RESCUE"

Following the violent events inflicted on Lebanon this summer, medical supplies became scare and very expensive for most Lebanese civilians. The siege over the Lebanese air and sea ports remained for weeks, even after military operations stopped making the humanitarian situation worse. Around 4000 civilians were injured during the violent conflict, many of whom will require long term medical care including the need for medications. Several humanitarian organizations in the US are still gathering donations in the form of medical supplies, medications and infant formula for shipping through UN sponsored routes to needy communities and hospitals in Lebanon.

The lebanese community in Iowa particiapated in these efforts. We thank all those who helped make this campaign a success. We encourage each of you to continue supporting the people of Lebanon, through the various ways offered through this and other websites.

Monday, August 14, 2006

CAMPAIGN GOES LIVE

At 7:30 p.m. on August 14th, members of our community went live on Public Access TV (channel 18) in "Live and Local" with moderator Adam Burke. The current humanitarian crisis in Lebanon was discussed. The extent of the wide scale destruction to civilian homes and infrastructure is being uncovered as the 1,000,000 displaced people attempt to return to their villages and cities. An estimated 15,000 families have lost their homes. More civilian deaths have been discovered as the rubble is being removed, adding the already confirmed +1000 deaths. Thousands remain without jobs because of the destruction that has affected factories and businesses. You can view the program at (may need to copy link below and paste into your web browser prior to viewing):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd7r_Ji6cRw

Ways to provide help and support were touched upon, which inlcude sending cash donations to the Lebanese Red Cross through its American and International affiliates.

To do so, donations should be marked, "Lebanese Red Cross" and mailed to:

Sunday, August 13, 2006

I HEART BEIRUT CAMPAIGN

(Artwork by by zena el-khalil,www.beirutupdate.blogspot.com)Beirut, a gorgeous city on the Mediterranean sea, has survived several wars and invasions across time and has managed to remain a vibrant, culturally rich place, full of odds and controversies. In a way, Beirut summarizes the diversity of Lebanon, a great example of how 17 different religious sects learned to live together. Again and again, it emerged as a symbol of mixture and tolerance, a symbol of freedom, within a region where gender, political and religious inequality prevails. We hope to keep this image alive and we hope we can spread it throughout the Middle East. Other people and cultures should learn that coexistence and reason are the only way to build a healthy society and lasting peace. The ugly alternative of resorting to violence to enforce one side's goals, is never the right one, we can attest to that.

A group of our staff members, helped launch the "I heart Beirut" campaign in the State of Iowa. While people laid on the ground, covered with the Lebanese flags, resembling killed Lebanese civilians, tens of the others (wearing I Heart Beirut T-shirts), approached the frequent bystanders and raised awareness about the dire humanitarian situation in Lebanon. Besides the 1000+ civilians confirmed dead and thousands seriously wounded, several thousand families have lost their homes and jobs. These will remain in camps and temporary housing until their homes are rebuild. Supporting these families and assisting in the rebuilding process is our main goal at this point. Please consider making a donation to the Lebanese Red Cross today, through its American and International affiliates. You will help the Lebanese people survive this new crisis.To view local media coverage for the event,you can go to the following links:http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/3558597.html

To receive information about how you can make a donation to the Lebanese Red Cross and how you can obtain an "I Heart Beirut" T-shirt, please refer to end of our first posting below, entitled "HELP LEBANESE CIVILIANS" and dated "Friday, August 11, 2006".

Friday, August 11, 2006

HELP LEBANESE CIVILIANS

“Compassion is the basis of morality”— Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher

Since July 12th, 2006 there has been an unprecedented escalation of violence in the Middle East with terrible consequences on the people of Lebanon, who are caught in the crossfire and are paying the price for a conflict not of their own choosing.

As a result of this violence, Lebanon’s civilian infrastructure is in tatters, more than 1000 civilians have been confirmed dead (30% of them children), thousands are seriously wounded, and an estimated 1,000,000 people have been displaced. Children have lost their parents, and thousands of families will be facing economic hardships as factories and businesses are being destroyed. The country is facing a shortage of food, water and medicine. A serious humanitarian crisis is present and will exist for some time, even if the hostilities were to cease today.

Don't feel helpless. There is something you can do to help ease the human tragedy and let the innocent children of Lebanon know that they have not been forgotten amid the callousness of war.

The Lebanese Red Cross has requested assistance from its international and American affiliates. Your local red cross has been authorized to accept donations that will go directly to assist in the massive relief effort. Your donation will help provide urgently needed supplies and care.

Your donations are tax deductible and will make a real difference in people's lives. PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION TODAY.

These donations will be forwarded directly to the Lebanese Red Cross through the International Red Cross.

We are counting on your generosity to help the Lebanese people survive in this critical time.

Thank you.

"You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late."

— Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist, philosopher and poet

As a way to encourage donations, we offer sending you a white 100% cotton T-shirt with "I Heart Beirut" logo for every $20 donated. To arrange for shipping, please provide us (via email: lebaneseiniowa@yahoo.com) with your full name, shipping address, amount

of money donated, and your choice of T-shirt size. Once your donation is verified by the above mentioned Red Cross location, your T-shirt will be shipped via regular mail within 2-3 days.